Rangers acquire All-Star LHP MacKenzie Gore in major 5-prospect trade

The Texas Rangers acquired All-Star left-hander MacKenzie Gore, 26, from the Washington Nationals in a five-for-one trade. The Nationals received five prospects, headlined by 2025 12th overall pick Gavin Fien, along with Alejandro Rosario (out for 2026 with elbow surgery), Abimelec Ortiz, Devin Fitz-Gerald, and Yeremy Cabrera. Gore, a 2025 NL All-Star, finished last season with a 5-15 record, 4.17 ERA, and a career-high 185 strikeouts in 30 starts. He is under team control for two more seasons and is expected to join Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi in the Rangers' rotation. Despite a post-All-Star break collapse (6.75 ERA, 1.70 WHIP) and command issues (1.35 WHIP, 3.6 BB/9), his raw stuff and 27.2% K-rate offer high upside for the Rangers' pitching infrastructure.